Corn-harvester



(No Model.) 4 Sh'ets-Shet 1.

BqE. WITTBR. CORN HARVESTER.

o. 537,095.l y 5mm-,5M r, 9, 1895. l q) 5) A ma Noams PETERS co.. Pnouuwu. wAsmNsToN, u. c.

(No Moda.) 4 sheets-sheet 2. E. E. WITT-ER. CORN HARVESTER.

No. 537,095. Patented Apr. 9, 1895.

' ma nofws PETERS co., PHcTqLlTuo., wAsHmnToN, D. c.

(No Model.)

E. E. WITTBR.

CORN HARVESTER. y 5 No. 537,095. Patented Apr. 9,1895.

(No-'Modem 4 sheets-sheen 4.

- RAE. WITTER.

CORN HARVESTER.

10.537,095. Patented Apr. 9, 1895.

*237mg Wer:

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

-EZRA E. wITTEE, oE MILFoRD CENTRE, oHIo.

CORN-HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 537,095, dated April 9, y1895. Application tiled April 21, 1893. Serial No. 471,253. (No model.)

To all whom zizi may concern,.-

Be it known that I, EZR'A E. WITTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milford Centre, in the county of Union and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements on the corn-harvesters covered by myl patents numbered 458,088 and 470,609, and its object is principally to make the harvester smaller than heretofore, andl to so construct it that it may be stored in less space, transported in more compact form, and may turn corners more easily than heretofore.

To these and other ends myinvention consists in constructing a harvester with folding gathering points so that they will not interfere with the'standing corn when the machine is turning.

My invention also consists in providing mechanism whereby the gathering points may be readily folded from the drivers seat.

My inventionl also consists in an improved form of compressor Inechanism, which automatically raises and lowers the compressor, simultaneously with the Vknetter and needle. This mechanism also allows the compressor to contract at the top when elevated and to eX- pand when lowered.

Myinvention also consists in'other features of novelty and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described andthen particularly pointed out in the claims.

In order that my invention maybe fully understood, I will now proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is4 a plan view of the harvester. Fig. lab is a detail view of the spring-supported friction rollers for keeping thestalks pressed against the advancing mechanism. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism for operating the inner gathering point. Fig. 2et is a detail view of parts vshown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the shock gathering frame enlarged, and Fig. 45 is a detail side view of the upper parts thereof. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the pivoted extension of the compressor arm.`

The main frame of the harvester comprises the rear beam a, forwardly projecting beams These parts a', a2 a3 c4 and cross-beam 0,5.

are similar'to those described in my patents 4referred to; but there is a distinct difference between the present and my previous inventions in that the main frame and the shock gathering frame are formed integrally, or'are firmly connected.

b is the base of the shock gathering frame, which at its forward edge is firmly secured to the rear beam a, and b is a connecting brace or beam between the cross-,beam d5 and the base b.

b2 is abrace connecting the inner sides of the shock gathering 4frame with the main frame. h3 b4 are iioors over which the incoming stalks pass to the entrance b5 of the said frame. bpis the tongue of the machine, and o7 b8 b9 are respectively the master-wheel, the grain-Wheel and the caster-wheel, which-are located at the rear of the shock-gathering frame.

For the purpose of keeping the incomingstalks pressed against the advancing mechanism, I provide a series of spring-pressed rollers l, which are journaled in the free ends of curved spring arms 2, which are secured to the frame of the machine in the cut.

c2 is the toothed wheel driven by the mas-y ter-wheel b7 which in turn rotates shaft c3 through the intermeshing pinion c4. This shaft drives the toothed chain c5 which revolves the cutters c and through suitable connections, not shown, revolves cutters c and drives toothed chains c6 c7. k

Having thus described in brief the main portions of my machine, I will now proceed to a detailed description of the `gathering points and the mechanism whereby they are folded.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, d is a standard supported on beam a2 in front of which standard is supported aforwardly leaning orslant- Ing post d. The upper ends of standard d and slanting post d support a downwardly IOO oted to it at ex.

inclined bar At each end of the bar d2 are respectively located sprocket-wheels d3 d4 around which passes a toothed sprocket chain d5 which is driven from a sprocketwheel d6 journaled in the standard d. This wheel d6 may be driven in any suitable manner, but I prefer the mechanism such as described in my eo-pending application, Serial No. 463,200, filed February 21, 1893.

Sprocket wheel d3 together with a sprocketwheel d7 are fixed on the short shaft d8 which journals in the lower forward end of the inclined bar d2.

From the forward end of beam a2 project two lugs or strips e, see Fig. 2 in which is journaled a short shaft e', carrying sprocketwheels e263. A downwardly extending drivechain e4, passes around the sprocket-wheels di and e3.

Extending forwardly and pivoted at its lower rear end on shaft e', is a crane-arm e5, which is upheld by means of a link e6 piv- The rear end of link e6 is pivoted to the outer end of a rock-arm e7 which is operated by a rock-shaft e8, from which it projects. This rock-shaft es is journaled upon the beams a', a2, aiand is rocked by a lever e9 located near the driver. The lever may be adjusted and held in any desired position by means of a quadrant rack elo and a pawl e11 carried by it.

In the outer end of the crane-arm e5 is journaled a short shaft f, on which are fixed three sprocket-wheels f', f2 f3 respectively. Over sprocket-wheels e2 and f passes a drivechain f4.

Pivoted at its lower end on the short shaft f is an inclined bar f5 which is provided with a longitudinal slot j extending nearly its entire length. This slot receives the short shaft (Z8 at the lower end of the inclined bar d2, the bar f5 bein g thereby permitted to be slid backwardly on the shaft the entire length of the slot. At the upper end of the sliding bar f5 isjonrnaled asprocket-wheel f6 around which and around the sprocket-wheelf on the short shaft f at the lower end of said bar f5 a toothed sprocket-chain f7 passes. This sliding, downwardly inclined bar f5 forms part of the gathering point. The other portion in the shape of an extension thereof, consists of a forwardly projecting bar or secondary craneu arm g pivoted at its rear end on the shaft f, and provided with a pointed forward end g. Near the end g' is journaled a sprocket wheel g2 over which passes a toothed sprocket chain g3 which extends rearwardly and also passes over the sprocket-wheelfz.

The bar or secondary' crane-arm gis raised and lowered independently of the crane arm e5, by means of a link h, which is pivoted at its rear end to the lever h', by pivot h2. The lever h is fulcrumed on the short shaft e and is connected at its rear end, by means of the link h", to the upper end of the rock-arm h3 which is carried by the rock-shaft h4. This rock shaft is journaled underneath the main 5mes frame parallel with rock-shaft e8 and is operated by the driver through the medium of a lever h5 which is adj usted and heldin desired position by means of a pawl h6 adapted to engage the quadrant rack k7. The toothed sprocket chain (Z5 being started, the drive chains e4, and f4 will be set in motion, thus operating the toothed sprocket-chains g3 and f7. The direction of motion of the elevator and drive-chains is indicated by arrows.

It will be observed that by properly manipulating the hand-levers, the parts of theinner gathering point, will fold into the position indicated by dotted lines, so that the standing corn will not be swept down while the machine is turning corners. The other gathering point is jointed and operated the same, and simultaneously by the same levers as the inner one.

7c is the lower portion of the chute-board, which corresponds to the sliding bar f5 and which is adapted to slide under the upper portion Za of the chute-board. The part 7c slides over and is supported by the shaft 7a2 which is journaled in lugs 7c3 projectingr from the part 7c. The part k of the chute has a lip 7a4 which projects over the part 7c so as to close the space that might otherwise be between them when the part k is slid down.

The drive-chain Z passes over a sprocketwheel Z at its rear end and over a sprocketwheel Z2 fixed on the shaft 7a2 at its lower end, and thus operates said sh aft. Overasprocketwheel Z3 fixed on the shaft k2 a drive-chain not shown, (corresponding to drive-chain e4) passes and operates the shaft Z5 in a similar manner to that in which the shaft e is operated. This shaft Z5 carries a sprocketwheel Z6 which operates a drive-chain Z7 corresponding to drive-chain f4.

Journaled in the outer end of the lower portion k of the chute, is a shaft m which carries a sprocket-wheel m over which the front end of the drive-chain Z7 passes, whereby said shaft is operated. The shaft m carries two sprocket-wheels m2 m3, which drive toothed elevator chains m4 m5 respectively located at opposite sides of the chute-board. These chains correspond to the chain f7 and pass at their upper ends over sprocket-wheels, m6m7, mounted at the upper end of the part 7a. The latter is supported and operated by a lever or crane arm (not shown) similar to and corresponding with the carne arm e5.

Pivoted on the shaft m is the gathering IOO IIO

point a, moved up and down on its pivot by The gathering point n and the lower chute' portion 7c are folded and operated simultaneously with the other gathering point as stated and the corresponding parts perform the same functions. l

The base b of the shock gathering frame supports the posts p, which are connected at their upper ends by the curved top pieces p', p2 of the gathering frame. p3 is the gate hinged at the rear of the gathering frame; p4, the revolving table; 105, the vertical partition, and p6 and p7 the upper and lower formers respectively. These parts of the shock gathering frame are substantially as in my patents referred to and a more detailed description is unnecessary.

A The hollow columns q, q', at each side of the entrance of the shock-gathering frame, slant inwardly in order to tie the knot as closely to the shock of corn as possible, at the varying heights at which the needle and knotter are elevated. As usual the needle q2 and the knotter qs are connected bya tongue-andgroove joint with their respective shafts g4, g5, which turn within thehollow columns, and are raised and lowered by means of sleeves Q6 provided with lugsq7 which project through the columns, and receive the elevating screws 8. These screws are in the present instance located on the innerinstead of the outer sides of the columns, q, q', and operated in any suitable manner by the driver through the medium of a rotary shaft Q9.

'In this machine a compressor for the top of the shock is employed, and in order to compensate for the narrowing and widening of the shock, by causing the compressor to contract as it is elevated and to widen out as it is lowered, mechanism now to be described is employed. The needle q2 is of the usual form and has an arm gx projecting therefrom which terminatesnear the heel or rear end of the needle. At the outer end of the needle-arm gx is a pin 1" which projects outwardly toward the heel of the needle, and carries a pulley 9^.

The sleeveq6 on the needle shaft carries a bar r2 located under the needle, and provided at its outer end with a lateral extension r3 which carries a sheaved pulley r4. Projecting rearwardly from the extension 'r3 and inline therewith is a coil-spring tension bar T5. Qn the front portion of the needle carrying arm is located a sheaved pulley r6.

Rising from the top of the shock gathering frame are boxess in which are journaled'the shaftss, the contiguous ends of which are provided with bevel gear wheels s2. These bevel gear wheels s2 intermesh with bevel gear wheels s3 which are located on the screwthreaded uprightA elevating shafts s4 and connected therewith by tongue-and-groove connection SX which shafts pass through internally screw-threaded lugs S5 projecting from .the posts p. The shafts s are revolved by means of the needle elevating screw g8 which is provided with a bevel wheel s6 that' intermeshes with one of the bevel wheels s2, thus threaded movable rods t which radiate from1 the shock-gathering frame. Screwed onto the' rodst are nuts t", between which and the shafts s4 are confined the spiral tension springs?, the tendency of which is to hold therodst outwardly as far las possible. The inner ends of the movable rods t, are-turned up to provide journals t3. for sheaved pulleys t4.

Elevating shaft u located near theV knotter shaft is also screw threaded like shaft s4 and has a bevel gear wheel u located on and connected therewith byatongue-and-groove connection fu?. This shaft u passes through an internally screw-threaded bracket 'w3 projecting from one of the posts p. At the top of the elevating shaft u is a crank-arm fw* provided at its outer end with a pivoted extension a5 in lieu vof the -.pulleys t4 of elevating shafts s4. t A spring u@ is coiled around the pivotu,7 of the extension a5 and has a free end 'w8 which' bears against the latter and folds it outwardly and rearwardly as shown. The

heel ug of the pivoted extension u is rounded or formed like a half pulley.

Connected to the pivoted extension at w and passing around the half pulley heel @t9 thereof, and around the pulleys t4 carried bythe movable spring retracted rods t, is a flexible medium fw such as rope, twine or even'wire rope. This flexible medium constitutes the IOO compressor proper, being in the form of a A girth. The compressor-rope also passes over pulleys r6 r4, in succession, and extends downwardly and is connected with the shock-gathing, the pulley r4 being substantially fixed, the

pulley lr moves with the arm and draws the compressor-rope with it, drawing the said rope or other flexible medium taut and firmly around the top ofthe shook. The pivoted extension or compressor arm its will at the same time be thrown inwardly, against the resist- The elevating shaft u is ance of its spring, and press against a portion of the shock that the compressor-ropedoes not touch. c

Slight changes in the construction of the various parts, will readily suggest themselves to skilled mechanics, without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention:

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a harvesting machine, the combination of the inwardly and rearwardly folding gathering and elevating points pivotally attached tothe machine and each comprising two or more sections pivotally attached together, with an endless elevating chain car ried by each of said sections upon pulleys which journal on the section pivots, said chains being adapted to assist in feeding the stalks to the machine, means for operating the elevating chains, and means for folding the gathering points to any desired position, substantially as set forth.

2. In a harvesting machine, the combination of an adjustable folding gathering point pivotally connected to the machine and comprising two or more hinged sections, elevator chains carried by the sections of the gathering point, upper elevating chains leading from the gathering point, means for operating the chains, an operating level', and suitable connections between the operating lever and the sectional gathering point, substan tially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a harvesting machine, the combination with an inclined movable bar, a support for its rear end, a cranearm connected to its front end, means for operating the crane-arm to slide back the said movable bar, an elevator chain for the said bar, and a forward gathering point extension, substantially as set forth.

4. In a harvesting machine the combination with a crane-arm pivoted to the frame, means for operating the crane-arm, a forward gathering point extension, connected to the crane-arm and an elevator chain on said extension, of a secondary crane-arm pivoted to said extension, and means for operating said secondary crane arm for depressing said extension, substantially as set forth.

5. In a harvesting machine, the combination with a forward gathering point extension, and a crane-arm to which it is pivotally connected, of a rock-shaft provided with an oper ating lever, a rock-arm on said shaft, and a connecting link between the crane-arm and rock-arm, substantially as set forth.

G. In a harvesting machine, the combination with a forward gathering point extension, and a crane-arm to which it is pivotally connected, of a secondary crane-arm pivoted to the extension, a pivoted lever connected to the secondary crane-arm, a suitably operated rock-shaft provided with rock-arms, and links connected with the rock-arms and with the lever and irrst-named crane-arm respectively, substantially as set forth.

7. In a harvesting machine, the combination with the gathering point, suitable e1evat-` ing chains, an upper chute-board portion supported adjacent to the gathering point and elevating chains, and a lower movable chuteboard portion supported over the gathering point and adapted to be slid under the upper portion, substantially as set forth.

8. In a harvesting machine, the combination of the inclined sliding bar or gathering arm carrying the elevating chain, a support for the rear end of the bar upon which it slides, a chute board supported adjacent to the. bar, a movable portion of the chute board having sliding connection with the stationary portion and connected with the sliding bar so as to be moved thereby, means for operating the elevating chain and means for operati ng the inclined movable bar with the connected movable portion of the chute board, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a harvesting machine, the combination of a suitable shocking frame, yieldingly supported guide pulleys mounted upon the frame, a shock compressing rope supported in the pulleys and extending around the frame, and suitable devices carried by the needle shaft for producing tension on one end of the rope and compressing the shock, substantially as set forth.

lO. In combination with the shock-gathering frame a compressor rope or such flexible medium, vertically adjustable pulleys therefor, the needle shaft pulleys carried by the needle around which the rope passes the sleeveon the needle shaft for raising the needle, an arm carried by the sleeve, and a pulley on the arm over which the compressor rope passes, substantially as set forth.

11. In combination with the shock-gathering frame, a compression rope, or such flexible medium, spring retracted tension rods, and pulleys carried by the rods, over which the rope passes, substantially as set forth.

12. In combination with the shock-gathering frame, elevating shafts, pulleys at the upper ends of the shafts, and a compression rope, or like flexible medium passing around the pulleys, substantially as set forth.

13. In combination with the shock-gathering frame, the compressing devices, elevating shafts therfor having external screw-threads, loose bevel gear wheels on the shafts, adapted to rotate therewith and slide thereon, and suitably operated shafts provided with bevel gear wheels to intermesh with aforesaid wheels, whereby the elevating shafts are raised and lowered, substantially as set forth.

14. In a harvesting machine, the combina-l tion of the shocking frame, the internally screw-threaded lugs on said frame, the screwrods working in said screw-threaded lugs, Schock -compressing devices supported by said rods, beveled wheels splined to said rods, aseries of horizontal shafts extending around the shocking frame between the rods, beveled gear wheels keyed to the opposite ends of said horizontal shafts and gearing with the beveled wheels of the screw-rods, and means for imparting rotary motion to one of said shafts, whereby all of the screw-rods can be raised and lowered simultaneously, substantially as set forth.

15. In combination with the shock-gathering frame, a compression rope, or such flexible medium, means for drawing on it at one IOO IIO

ble medium, means for drawing ou it at one end, a rotary crank-arm at the other end with ro which the rope is connected, a limit hook 0perated by said crank-arm, and a stop for the hook, substantially as set forth.

EZRA E. WITTER.

Witnesses:

J. M. WHITMEE, A. H. GOODWIN. 

